Not So Good at This

Well, I haven't done as I said I would. The reason...not much to post about. All that has been going on is pain, pain, and more pain. Im sure this is not what most people want to hear about so I've refrained. Just lots of hip and lower back pain. even trips to the chiropractor hasn't helped. He was never able to adjust my lower back, so instead of receiving ore pain and paying for it, I called it quits.
I guess there is one thing that is exciting going on. Zack starts kindergarten Tuesday! He's very excited and can't wait to ride the bus to and from school every day. The bus stop is at the end of our road, so not too far to get him there.
He will have Ms. Gibb this year and she seems very nice and I'm hoping things go really well. A little nervous after the assessment, but I guess we'll see how he does after a term. Not much else you can do if your child isn't ready to go, right?
14 weeks and counting til this wonderful bundle of joy makes her way to the world. Or at least we hope she (I) can make it that long!

Another (wo)man's treasure

This Saturday from 7:00-noon we are having a yard sale at our house. We're trying to make a little money, as well as get rid of the stuff we don't use anymore. The biggest thing we are selling are baby boy clothes since we're having a girl and we probably won't be having any more kids after this one. It also inspired my mom to clean out her attic and under her stairs. She will have Christmas decorations including a fake tree and king size comforters and bed sets. Paul's parents are also bringing a bunch of stuff down too (not sure what yet). If you're interested, please stop by and check it out!

A New Leaf

Wow, talk about slacker! It's been over a year since I last posted. I'm sure there isn't anyone out there anymore following my blog, but I guess it's for me anyway. I'm not going to try to catch up all that has happened in the last year+, just from now on. It was an old friend that has inspired me to turn over a new leaf and begin again. Even if it's just a thought a day/week, I'm going to blog more often. Thank you Kourtne. Our most recent news is that we are expecting another baby GIRL in December! We had an ultrasound yesterday and everything looks great. She even moved my due date up 4 days! My original due date was December 5th, but now the 1st. Im taking that one ;). We are discussing names and it's still in debate, so we'll update after we've made a decision. We are continuing to work on our never ending project in the yard. Maybe one day we will get it done. Paul installed a sprinkler system this spring and it has done wonders to our lawn. It looks amazing! Thank you Paul! Paul has been working so many long days that it's hard to get anything done. He is one busy and incredible man! I have an amazing husband! Paul told me the other day that he needed some comedy in his life so, since it is Paul's birthday this Saturday, my mom has agreed to take our kids for the night so we can go to Salt Lake to "Laughing Stock" at The Off Broadway Theater. The show doesn't start until 10:00 pm so we'll go to dinner before and not get home til late (early). Too late for a sitter to come to our house. I'm looking forward to a great date night, thank you Mom!

So Much Going On

It has been way too long since I last updated. With all the holiday fun and work and keeping up with the kids, I haven't had a chance to update. Here's my attempt. Sorry, no pictures, I need a new card for the camera.

October - halloween (already posted); mom's knee replacement surgery-trying to help out as much as I can while still working and taking care of my kids. Thanks to mom's sister, Sherrie, for coming down from SL a couple times a weeks to help out. She was a lifesaver.

November - Thanksgiving at our house with the help of everyone. My first Thanksgiving went well because everyone brought something. Thanks to my siblings and their families.

December - Grandkid pictures were a little difficult. Not sure how you can  miss one child with 5 adults there to supervise, but it happens. Jordie had to be photoshopped in because one had to leave before we figured out he wasn't there. Can't even tell. Picture looks great; Christmas - we were so blessed. We felt the love of all those around us and are so lucky to have so much in our life. Thanks to all who made it so special this year.

January - Paul got a new job and is now working for the City. He is loving it and is so glad to be working back in the field he loves to do (being outside).

February - Lots and lots of snow as all of you in Utah know; Migranes return as well as wearing a heart moniter for my irregular heartbeats. Only worn the thing for a week and ready to throw it away (suppose to have it for 30 days). Just gets in the way when I'm working and when I'm holding Mackenzie.

March - Mackenzie is sick and has kept us up a couple nights. Dr says nothing can be done, but just to watch for signs of RSV even though she's a little old for it; Planning on a weekend trip as a family. Time for a little getaway even if it only lasts 3 days.

These months have flown by so fast, but have crawled at the same time. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about. Hope your last few months have been good to you. I'm hoping to get pictures up soon.

Halloween 2010

Halloween was really fun this year. Zack has been into Harry Potter for the last 6 months or so and it's the one movie we watch daily. We try to alternate between the six of them, but sometimes it's the same one over and over. Anway, he wanted to be Harry Potter so we found him a costume as soon as the Halloween stores opened this year. Becky made his scarf since we didn't want to spend another $10 on another part of his costume. He broke the first set of glasses so he ended up with two this year. The second set stayed on the top of the fridge until Halloween so we wouldn't have to buy a third pair. Zack was said to have been the best Harry Potter this year. I'll let you decide that for yourself.

So, a few months ago, Becky went down the street to a yard sale at our neighbors house just to check out what they had. There she found Mackenzie's costume for .50 cents. She just happened to have .50 cents with her. Thanks Mandy, it was just perfect. We found the hat, which Kenz would not leave on her head, and her leg warmers at PartyLand and that completed the outfit. So cute. We'll let you decide on this one too.

The cute witch Mackenzie and Harry Potter-Zackary

Zackary

Mackenzie

Mackenzie's Birthday Parties

I know there isn't much to say about this, I just wanted to post some pictures of Mackenzie's 1st birthday parties. She had two. One in our home with  Becky's family and one in Evanston with Paul's family. It just seems to work best when we seperate them because of space, since Becky's family is huge and Paul's grandparent's aren't usually able to make it down this way.

Mackenzie seems to have had a good birthday and we thank all those that were a part of it. Thank you all for your love and support. She (we) loves you.

 Paul & Zack making Mackenzie's cake

Becky frosting the 3 layer cake

the finished product

Mackenzie opening presents

Our first attempt at the checker board cake. didn't turn out too bad.

Mackenzie eating the yummy cake

Jordan and Zack eating cake

Mackenzie's Evanston cake

the blanket mommy made, a year late, but finally finished (couldn't find a back the worked perfectly)

opening presents in Evanston

 the batter of the Springville cake. couldn't get this picture to go where I wanted it.

Happy 1st Birthday Mackenzie!

Happy Birthday Mackenzie

Today is Mackenzie's 1st Birthday! We are so lucky to have her in our lives and have been so blessed with her amazing spirit in our home. She makes us so happy. She has the most amazing smile and laugh. We love her with all our hearts for ever and ever. She has made this last year so much easier just having her in our home. I could go on for hours about all the things she does for us, but I'll spare you that. I know all that have met know exactly what I am talking about. She brightens our day.

Thank you Mackenzie for choosing us as your family. We love you!

(I will try to post her 1 year pictures when I figure out how to download them to my computer. I've never had this much trouble doing so. I think the portrait studio did it on purpose.)

Splash Pad

Saturday we went to North Park to play on the new splash pad. The kids had so much fun even though the water was freezing. Kenzie only lasted about 5 minutes, but Zack could have done it all afternoon if Zack hadn't started sneezing and having a runny nose. He did end up getting sick. He started with a fever yesterday afternoon so it may be next year before we try that again. I guess it needs to be really really warm to do that.

This weekend has been really fun. We were able to spend a lot of time together because neither of us had to work Saturday. I'm still off today so we'll be able to spend tonight with each other too. I think we're going to wash the cars and BBQ some chicken when Paul gets home. So glad I don't work Monday nights.

Canyon Trip

One Sunday, not too long ago, we took a trip up the canyon to spend some time together as a family. We had just purchased a badminton set and wanted to play around with it. We weren't able to do much with it because of the wind, but we still had fun. It was a great day to go up there. The place was packed, but there was plenty of room to play and have a good time. I'm glad we did it and can't wait to do it again.

5 Years and Counting

Today is our 4th and 5th anniversaries. Five years from the day we were married, and 4 from the day we were sealed in the temple. We are one of the lucky ones that doesn't have to remember two dates for these days. We were so blessed to have been able to go to the temple exactly one year after we were married. 

These five years have been the best years. I am the luckiest girl on the planet to have such a wonderful husband and beautiful children. I'm not saying it's been cake, but it has been worth it. A couple months ago I was able to go out with two of my best friends to get away from the kids for a bit and get some ice cream at DQ. There it was that I found that we really aren't the only ones that have been struggling. It's nice to know that we're not the only ones our age in the boat without a paddle sometimes. 

Anyway, I have loved the last five years and couldn't (or wouldn't) have asked for a better life. Thank you Paul for all of it. You are the love of my life. I'm excited to see what eternity has in store for us.

Mackenzie's 10 month pictures and stuff

So, yesterday my sister, Angie, took Mackenzie's 10 month pictures. I know, we're a month behind, but at least we had them done. We went up Hobble Creek Canyon and found a pretty good place to do it. She wasn't the most pleasant little girl, but some did turn out. Thanks Ang for doing this again. We love that you take time out to do this for us. Enjoy:

Can't seem to keep her hands out of her mouth. She is getting her 4th tooth (and possibly 5th).

Can't remember if she's blowing kisses or playing peek-a-boo.

Love this one. She's such an angel.

Not sure what she's showing us with her fingers.

Not too excited when she was told not to eat the flower.

Kenzie hates wearing headbands now. It's been since we didn't make her wear one at Disneyland in April.

Kenz won the headband fight. No more headbands for her.

And Stuff...

We have new schedules in our home and Paul and I don't get to see each other very much anymore. With my new job, Paul has to get up at 6:00 and be there by 7:00 (in Orem) and works until 3:00 so he can be home by 3:30 for me to leave just as he's walking into the house so I can be to work by 4:00 (also in Orem). I work until 9:30, sometimes 10:00 last week, and I don't get to put Kenzie to bed anymore. We go to bed around 11:00 so Paul can be up at 6:00am. I'm sure most of you already do that, but it's hard to make this kind of change.
I'm also trying to get in a workout sometime. My kids don't really let me do anything alone. When Kenzie is up, she has to be in the same room with you and you can't just put her in the walker or saucer. She hates being confined to a small space (who can blame her?). And Zack can have a movie on in one room, but have to be in the same room with you. He'll bring his toys wherever you are and play. I'd like to walk on the treadmill, but since our fun neighbor experience with one, I am very nervous to have it on with the kids around (let just say 3 weeks in the burn unit and 2 skin graft surgeries is not something I want my kids to experience). This morning we did go on a walk around our neighborhood so I'm hoping that we will be able to do that for awhile. It'll be nice when it's not so warm in the mornings, but once it gets to cold do that or when the white stuff starts showing up on the ground, it'll be a little hard to push a two child stroller around. What do I do then?

So, Wednesday is our 5th anniversary. Since we don't have the money to take too much time off work, we are each just taking a day off. I am taking Wednesday off and Paul is taking Thursday off. We leave as soon as Paul gets off work on Wednesday and going to Park City to the same place we stayed on our honeymoon. My mom was so sweet to agree to come stay with our kids that night. Again, money is needed, so the only thing we will be doing that costs money (besides the room) is eating. We'll just hang out and watch  movies and go to the pool.

Anyway, enough with this post. Hope all is well with all of you (the maybe three that read this).

I got one!

No, I didn't catch a fish, I got a job! I start tomorrow at Robert's Craft. I am excited because this is a field that I don't have a lot of experience in, but I'm excited that I get to do something different and I'm not going to be in an office setting. I liked being in an office, but it'll be nice for a change. I don't have to be on the phone talking to demanding people. I get to do that in person now ;) . I love to shop there when I can, and now I can get a discount and get cute things for my house and do cute crafts when I get the chance. I will keep you posted on how it goes. Wish me luck on my first day tomorrow!

Just Random

So, I tried to move these pictures down below the actual post, but they just wouldn't budge. Anyway, these are just random pictures that I thought I would post since it's been so long since I posted pictures. Sorry they are so random and some are really old, but I liked them.

So, I was thinking that although it hasn't been too long since I last posted, I should do something. I don't have too much to say, but that I am grateful for amazing people in my life. We have had a lot of support from everyone we know. We have gotten to know people better and have enjoyed doing so. We have been so blessed from our Heavenly Father in so many ways. We have been able to pay our bills even though we shouldn't be able to. We have random money show up just at the right time (this is also because of help from our wonderful parents, but also in other ways too). We have been so happy even in the low times. We try to make lemonade when we are handed lemons. It is hard, but it really does work if you really want it to. You all know who you are that have been so supportive and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We love you!

Job Hunting

Here I am taking a break from the never ending job hunt. I have been doing this now for about 2-3 weeks every morning for at least 2-3 hours. It's a process that will never end because of the following:

A) In order for me to get a job I have to work during the day because most offices aren't open after Paul gets off work, this is the only past work experience I have. If I were to go back to work full-time during the day, I would have to find a job that pays more than Paul's and get excellent benefits. This is not possible in the receptionist industry.

B) For Paul to get a job, since he has his CDL, he has to have 2 years driving. If he doesn't have at least that, he has to have endorsements, which he doesn't have.

C) If we do find perfect jobs for each or one of us, we apply and hear nothing back. The add also indicates they do not want any calls or emails about the position.

HONESTLY! How does anyone get a job? I am so tired of this process and I don't think I can handle it anymore. But, we HAVE TO have another job ASAP.

Well, sorry about the venting, but I needed to do it somewhere and I really needed a break from the job hunting.

Hope all is well with everyone. Have an enjoyable weekend.

Potty Training

Well, this journey is usually very unsuccessful for some people, but for my wonderful 3 year old, Zack, he has done a fantastic job. He has had very few accidents, besides Tuesday which was his second day. We are so excited for him. He tells us when he needs to use the bathroom and he has gotten better about going when we need him to before we leave the house. We have had to stop once in the car and let him go on the side of the road. We were on the freeway headed to Orem when he told us so we got off the next exit and pulled off the side of the road (with very little traffic) and let him be a boy. The world is a boys urinal, right! Anyway, it's been a week and he is doing great. We decided that we should celebrate by taking him bowling sometime this week. He's very excited about that.

Big Week for Us

So last week was a big week full of fun and not so fun stuff.

First, on Monday, Paul got a call saying that his grandma had passed away. She had been sick and we were lucky enough to have gone up just the night before to see her.

Same day...our computer got a nasty virus...it's pretty much done anyway.

Still same day...Paul sits down after work and turns on the tv. Nothing. TV dead.

More from Monday...while I'm out doing last minute things for scouts before we leave town, Paul's playing with Kenzie on the floor and she starts crawling. I miss it. But she's crawling :)

Wednesday night is the viewing.

Thursday morning I get a call from the doctor (I've been awaiting test results for myself and Zack of why we have been sick to our stomachs since the 5th of June), the results are in...we have E-coli. No idea where we got it from. The medication they want me on will cause me to not nurse anymore. Kenzie is having a hard enough time with a bottle as it is, but I guess she'll just have to deal since that's the only way she's going to get any liquids. So she's forced to stop nursing.

Thursday is the funeral.

Saturday, Kenzie is very whiney. While I'm trying to feed her baby food, I see a little tooth popping out of her bottom gums.

Sunday...Father's Day. A wonderful day spent with my family. To my amazing husband and father, Happy Father's Day!

As you can see it was a very long week for us at our house. Hope you had a good one.

Milestone Pictures

On Sunday my wonderful sister, Angie, took pictures of our kids. Kenzie's now 7 months, but we're saying these are her 6 month pictures and Zack will be 3 on June 7th, so these are his yearly pictures. They turned out perfect. Thanks again Ang for putting up with us. It really saved us a lot of $ with you doing this and they are better and totally what we wanted.

Enjoy: